THE OLD SWING BRIDGE

Views from the early 1960s

By William Dunlop

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'THE OLD SWING BRIDGE' page
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'THE OLD SWING BRIDGE' page
Photo: Illustrative image for the 'THE OLD SWING BRIDGE' page
This page was added by William Dunlop on 13/01/2014.
Comments about this page

Fascinating images for me! Not only the bridge and its 'gang' but the ships. At the top we see that the bridge has been opened for the former Newhaven stalwart tug Tidworth, undergoing conversion from steam to diesel by Mike Newton-Smith's Metrec operation. She's being moved down river by another Metrec conversion, the tug Sunnyside.

At the left we see the Barcroft, yet another of Metrec's vessels and beyond her is Brighton (VI). The lower two photos show the suction dredger Amey III passing through, with Barry Bevan-Funnell's floating showroom / luxury yacht Maluti moored at the left. The car ferry alongside the Railway Quay is the Dover-based Lord Warden.

Centre photo shows what looks like the sand dredger Sand Tern at the old Coal Wharf, and in the distance is yet another Metrec vessel, the converted minesweeper Investic.

By Andy Gilbert
On 18/01/2014

Great pictures, the top one is from 1962, Tidworths steam machinery has all been removed and her boiler was lifted out complete by the shearlegs for service in a laundry. Tidworths new engine is a SS Petter two cycle direct reversing diesel. Sunnyside again fitted with SS Petter but with a gearbox for bridge control. The Barcroft was owned by Metrec from 1962 to 1965 when she was towed away for scrapping. The other two pictures show the sand dredger Amey II built in 1971 but renamed Arco Test in1973. The harbour was so busy back then.

By Charlie Hutchings
On 07/02/2014

 

Charlie, do you still have the tin model you made of "Tidworth" back in the sixties?

By Ian Bishop
On 25/10/2015

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